Something about the American Proletariat.
This is a small post, perhaps a very small one, about the workers of the United States. I think that it is far more beneficial to speak of the American proletariat and it's movements rather than the parties that exist, mostly because of their small membership.
Is a new left dawning in the land across the Atlantic? In the world's most advanced capital state there seem to be signs of a gradual awakening of class consciousness. This very much comes from the immigrants, who bring with a radical culture from their homes in Latin America. It also comes from disenfranchised groups, such as the black communities of Los Angeles - and from non-ethnic mobilization in unions.
The Republican party have shown who they are concerned about. www.pww.org reports a lot of facts concerning this, as does indymedia.org. The downsizing of what social security this is and dumping of the wages in favour of massive capitalists, as well as the problems abroad cause rising tensions.
Tension, it seem, should be more of a key word in marxism. Certainly, it seems as if increased tension, increased economic competition is what really creates class struggle. Therein is the key. For a long time, the US proletariat has lived relatively well on a small lower class that have been "super exploited" and divided along ethnic groups (blacks vs. whites, latinos vs. koreans, etc) but as the upper class ups the stakes there is disturbance in the system. With an ill-fated war that grows worse by the day, with international hostility towards the openly imperialist ambitions of the United States (from both radical and reactionary groups) and an economy that is sagging together the old neoliberal agenda might finally loose pace. Or it might not.
But certainly, it seems time for an awakening. Now that marxism has departed center stage, it is needed far more than ever. Because this is not something postmodernism can truly understand so easily: this is competition for resources. This is a war between classes. That is multiplying everywhere, ripples on the pond. From Saudi Arabia and the oil sheiks to China to the United States: the high castle of capitalism.
If things continue in this way, and they are showing no sign of stopping, then we can perhaps hope for a new left in the United States. But what is needed is not a short-term change, but rather, a deep class-consciousness must take root and communities must be built. If we are ever to succeed, we must overcome our differences that have been so ingrained in us, especially in the US, perhaps, and cooperate to take power over our lives. Perhaps an Eugene V. Debbs is required again, perhaps not.
Certainly, though, it is the domestic tension that shall lead somewhere and not idealism with the people of Iraq or otherwise. Though it remains important to highlight the callousness of the Bush administration, the fight must be over the most /direct/ material interests of the working class of the United States. Today is Labour Day, and though it is an instrument of the capitalist class (created to cease May 1st celebrations by a US senator back in the day) this as so much else created by capitalism must be embraced and said: This is ours!
This is our world!
Is a new left dawning in the land across the Atlantic? In the world's most advanced capital state there seem to be signs of a gradual awakening of class consciousness. This very much comes from the immigrants, who bring with a radical culture from their homes in Latin America. It also comes from disenfranchised groups, such as the black communities of Los Angeles - and from non-ethnic mobilization in unions.
The Republican party have shown who they are concerned about. www.pww.org reports a lot of facts concerning this, as does indymedia.org. The downsizing of what social security this is and dumping of the wages in favour of massive capitalists, as well as the problems abroad cause rising tensions.
Tension, it seem, should be more of a key word in marxism. Certainly, it seems as if increased tension, increased economic competition is what really creates class struggle. Therein is the key. For a long time, the US proletariat has lived relatively well on a small lower class that have been "super exploited" and divided along ethnic groups (blacks vs. whites, latinos vs. koreans, etc) but as the upper class ups the stakes there is disturbance in the system. With an ill-fated war that grows worse by the day, with international hostility towards the openly imperialist ambitions of the United States (from both radical and reactionary groups) and an economy that is sagging together the old neoliberal agenda might finally loose pace. Or it might not.
But certainly, it seems time for an awakening. Now that marxism has departed center stage, it is needed far more than ever. Because this is not something postmodernism can truly understand so easily: this is competition for resources. This is a war between classes. That is multiplying everywhere, ripples on the pond. From Saudi Arabia and the oil sheiks to China to the United States: the high castle of capitalism.
If things continue in this way, and they are showing no sign of stopping, then we can perhaps hope for a new left in the United States. But what is needed is not a short-term change, but rather, a deep class-consciousness must take root and communities must be built. If we are ever to succeed, we must overcome our differences that have been so ingrained in us, especially in the US, perhaps, and cooperate to take power over our lives. Perhaps an Eugene V. Debbs is required again, perhaps not.
Certainly, though, it is the domestic tension that shall lead somewhere and not idealism with the people of Iraq or otherwise. Though it remains important to highlight the callousness of the Bush administration, the fight must be over the most /direct/ material interests of the working class of the United States. Today is Labour Day, and though it is an instrument of the capitalist class (created to cease May 1st celebrations by a US senator back in the day) this as so much else created by capitalism must be embraced and said: This is ours!
This is our world!
posted by Björn at 1:05 AM
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